The three Minotaurs loomed before Bell, their hulking forms barely illuminated by the dim, flickering glow of the Dungeon. Their crimson eyes burned with primal fury, muscles rippling beneath their thick hides as they let out guttural roars.
But Bell...
Bell only exhaled, his daggers steady in his grip. His heart was calm.
These creatures—these monsters—were nothing to him anymore.
The first Minotaur lunged, its massive arm swinging like a battering ram. Bell didn't dodge.
He didn't need to.
SCHING!
In an instant, Bell surged forward, his blade carving through muscle and bone. The Minotaur's arm separated from its body, spinning through the air in a grotesque arc before landing with a sickening thud.
The beast didn't even have time to scream.
Bell moved faster than its pain could register, his second dagger driving straight through its skull. A splatter of hot blood misted the air as the Minotaur's body collapsed, twitching violently before going still.
The remaining two hesitated—just for a second.
Bell grinned. Too slow.
He vanished.
A blur of white and black cut through the dungeon as Bell weaved between them, his speed overwhelming. The second Minotaur barely had time to react before Bell's dagger slashed across its knees, severing tendons with ruthless precision.
It howled, dropping to all fours—only for Bell to flip onto its back, his grip tightening.
CRACK!
With inhuman strength, he wrenched its head to the side, snapping its neck with a brutal twist. The body fell limp beneath him as he pushed off, his next target already in sight.
The final Minotaur let out an enraged roar, raising both fists high before slamming them down in a desperate attempt to crush him.
BOOM!
The ground cracked under the impact. Dust and debris exploded into the air—
But Bell was already above it.
A sharp whistle cut through the air as he descended, his blade gleaming. The Minotaur looked up—just in time to see death rushing toward it.
SPLAT!
Bell's dagger rammed through its skull, piercing clean through and out the other side. Blood gushed as the monster twitched, its massive body convulsing before crumbling to the ground, lifeless.
Silence.
Bell exhaled, flicking his wrist. A spray of crimson arced from his blade, splattering against the dungeon walls.
He stared at the carnage around him.
Mutilated.
That was the only word for what he had done to them.
The Bell Cranel of the past would have struggled. Would have hesitated.
But now?
Now, these things were nothing but obstacles to be cut down.
And he was more than willing to do so.
In the mid-levels of the Dungeon, Ryuu and Asfi moved as twin blades through the darkness, cutting down Almiraj and Hellhounds with ruthless efficiency. The clash of steel against flesh and the sharp cries of dying monsters echoed through the cavernous halls, but neither warrior slowed. They fought with purpose, each movement honed by experience.
As the final monster collapsed, Asfi adjusted her glasses, scanning the battlefield for any lingering threats. Satisfied, she and Ryuu pressed forward until they reached an abrupt blockade—a cave-in.
Ryuu nimbly climbed atop the pile of rubble, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. Embedded within the debris, she found shattered monster stones and discarded potion vials. She knelt, running her fingers along the dust-covered remnants.
"They were here," she murmured.
Asfi analyzed the evidence, quickly piecing together the situation. "Given their supplies and the path ahead, Bell's group is most likely heading for the safe zone on the 18th floor."
Hermes, standing behind them, nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "Makes sense. And if I were Bell, I wouldn't stop for anything until I got there."
Hestia, who had been anxiously following the investigation, clenched her hands to her chest. She didn't need calculations or deductions—she could still feel it. Bell was alive. He was still pushing forward.
Meanwhile, deep in the Dungeon, Bell and Lili pressed onward. His shadows cut through anything that stood in their path, their momentum unstoppable.
Back at the search party, Hestia shot Hermes a sharp look. "Why are you really helping us, Hermes? You don't do anything without a reason."
The god chuckled, a glint of mischief in his golden eyes. "A certain someone asked me to, and, well... let's just say Bell has caught my interest."
Far below, Bell finally reached it—the Great Wall of Lamentation.
The exit to the 18th floor stood before him, a gateway to safety. Relief flickered in his chest, but it was short-lived.
The air trembled.
Cracks splintered across the icy ground, jagged fissures spreading outward like veins of impending doom. A deep, guttural growl rumbled from the depths of the frozen abyss, the sound reverberating through the cavern like the harbinger of an ancient nightmare. The frost-coated walls groaned in protest as the temperature plummeted further, a wave of frigid air surging outward.
Then—it emerged.
The frozen prison exploded in a maelstrom of shattered ice, sending razor-sharp shards flying in every direction. A monstrous form rose from the destruction, wreathed in steam as its titanic frame pulsed with raw energy.
Bell didn't hesitate.
"Igris, we're going in together!"
The shadow knight wordlessly obeyed. He dashed forward, a blur of death, his longsword gleaming with lethal intent.
Bell surged forward, his instincts honed sharper than ever. With a burst of explosive speed, he leaped into the air, twisting his body mid-flight. The monster roared, its clawed hand swiping at him with crushing force. Bell barely evaded it, flipping over the massive limb before bringing his dagger down in a vicious arc.
Steel bit deep.
A jagged gash tore across the creature's chest, spilling steaming ichor onto the frozen ground. The monster roared in fury, staggering backward as Bell landed with fluid precision. He didn't stop. With relentless momentum, he thrust his hand forward—
"Firebolt!"
A torrent of flames surged from his palm, the white-hot blaze streaking into the open wound. The explosion rocked the cavern, embers scattering like dying stars. The beast reared back in agony, its cry of pain a cacophony of rage and defiance.
Igris struck.
A phantom of darkness, he danced through the chaos with inhuman speed. His longsword cleaved through the air—once, twice—a blur of precise, merciless cuts. The first strike severed the beast's left arm at the shoulder, spraying frost-tainted blood across the battlefield. The second blow sliced through its core, the blade embedding deep within its ribcage.
The monster froze, its body trembling violently.
Then—the silence shattered.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted from within. Flames burst from every wound as the beast imploded, consumed by the unrelenting force of Bell's magic. Its body crumbled into cinders, fragments of burning ice scattering into the abyss.
Bell stood at the center of the inferno, his crimson eyes glowing through the dissipating embers.
Unshaken. Unstoppable.
At last, the path to the 18th floor lay open before him.
Bell grins, Lili exhales, both stepping through the dissipating remains, finally reaching the 18th floor.
Ais stood there, watching.
Golden eyes wide, lips slightly parted.
Bell was surrounded by shadowy humanoid figures, a presence unlike anything she had seen before.
Ais watched in quiet fascination as the dark, armored figures melted into Bell's shadow, vanishing as though they had never existed. There was no doubt—these creatures belonged to him, obeyed him without question. It was a sight both strange and awe-inspiring, and she couldn't help but feel a small flicker of admiration.
Lili, standing beside Bell, was far less composed. "That was amazing, Bell! You looked so cool taking down that boss like it was nothing!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, hands clenched into fists.
Bell chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I-I don't know about 'cool,' but... thanks, Lili."
Ais took a step forward. "That power... those creatures," she said, her golden eyes meeting his. "What are they?"
Bell turned toward her, momentarily startled before letting out a small laugh. "Ah, right. You haven't seen them before." He glanced down at his shadow, watching as it rippled slightly beneath him. "They're my soldiers. Something I recently learned to do."
His voice was steady, lacking the nervous stammer he usually had around her. Though a faint blush dusted his cheeks, he held himself better than before—a definite improvement.
Ais nodded, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer. There was something different about him. Stronger. More composed. He wasn't the same boy who had once trembled in front of her.
And for some reason... that made her feel proud.
---
Next: A City In A Dungeon